George's observations on social injustice, bigotry, and other tyrannies of the majority.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Well it's About Damn Time!

President Obama signed the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that includes language expanding "Hate Crimes" to cover crimes motivated by a person's perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, as well as a person's disability. It took over 10 years to expand this law to cover GLBT or disabled people. That means that during the last 10 years, the religonistas, who fought so hard against this expansion of the "hate crimes" definition have had the "special rights" they've been so eager to prevent the Gay community from enjoying.

Well, although I am proud that this law has finally been passed, I am also somewhat sad and discouraged that over 230 years after our founding fathers created this nation's government on the declaration that all people are equal, that there are so many who STILL DON'T GET IT!

Hey everyone, ALL PEOPLE includes women, ALL PEOPLE includes those who are not Caucasian, ALL PEOPLE includes atheists, ALL PEOPLE includes followers of Krishna, Mohamed, Alla, Jehovah, Joseph Smith Jr., and yes, even L. Ron Hubbard. All People includes gays, lesbians, people who are transgendered, bisexual people, disabled people, retarded people, good people, bad people, loving people, bigoted people, agnostic people, fat people, skinny people, yellow people, brown people, red people, indigenous people, people with slanted eyes, hairy people, smooth people. Well you get the idea, or at least you should.

I am saddened that there is a need for such legislation, but I am happy that the need has finally been addressed.

Oh, by the way ALL PEOPLE also includes those who are not citizens of the United States! People are people damnit! If you believe anything about our Constitution and our Bill of Rights, then you can't in good conscience deny immigrants, illegal or not, of the same basic protections and freedoms that are their INALIENABLE right! So just get over it, we're not going to go broke because some people from Mexico occasionally require medical care, or want to send their children to our schools.